One Less Mistake

Summary: What if Lorelai hadn't gotten pregnant until she was 20? What if she had agreed to marry Christopher when she did? AU.

Pairings: Rory/Dean, Lor/Chris

Disclaimer: All of these characters belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB

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"Good morning," Dean said as Rory's eyes fluttered open.

"Happy 2007," she replied, giggling slightly as he closed the small gap between them and kissed her. "You know, I think I could wake up like this every year. Actually, every morning."

"I'm glad. So could I."

"It's perfect."

"This morning is the most perfect thing since last night."

"Even without coffee, it's the most perfect thing. Actually, it's better this way."

"How so?"

"Because I knowingly gave up coffee to make a near-perfect thing even better."

"I'm glad you feel that way, too. Although I didn't give anything up."

"You didn't have the opportunity."

"True. I would have, gladly."

"I'm glad," she said as she kissed him, and rolled on top of him. He deepened the kiss, pulling her even closer.

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"Happy 2007!" Lorelai trilled as she slid back into bed with Chris, holding a large tray with pancakes and coffee.

"You woke up before me?"

"It's January 1st. Rory's not here to wake us all up on her perkiest morning of the year."

"What about Topher?"

"Toph likes to sleep on New Years Day. It's the one day that the Christopher Hadens of the world sleep and the Lorelai Hadens of the world willingly rise, injecting themselves with coffee as they do, of course."

"Ah, yes, the day the world turns on it's ear."

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Rory and Dean drove back up the next day, filling Dean's car with everything that Rory thought they might possibly need, and as the daughter of Lorelai Haden, that was a lot. On the ferry, they stood on the deck, wrapped around each other to keep warm, and simply for the joy of standing so close together. "So, this whole bringing the car over on a boat thing?" Dean said, "Very cool. I could definitely get used to it."

"It's fun. That's my favorite part of going to the Vineyard. Actually, I didn't like it so much until this time."

"Oh, so you liked this mini-vacation?"

"I'd hit you, but that would involve letting myself get cold again. And it just so happens that I'm very comfortable and happy right now."

"Is that so?"

"That's so," they laughed, and waited as the ferry approached the shore.